The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1887-08-20
gor. NleholIa and the Canens.


New Orleans States,
The Baton Rouge Truth, one of the ablest
Of the Reform papers, says
"These assailants of Gen. Nichols politi-
cal status In their enthusiasm seem to forget
that the acts of GOV, Nichols, of which they
SO much complain, were part and parcel Of
the policy of the party, at the time author
lied by caucus and afterwards endorsed BY
the party convention
tits true, and II is wise political rule,
that member Of the Democratic or Repub-
llcan caucus lie bound by the action OIL the
caucus but no such obligation rests upon
the executive Of the government, and Gov.
Nichols was under no obligation to follow
the behests of the Democratic caucus, IN the
exciting days from 1877 TO 1879, further than
his own Judgment and inclination prompted
him to do so. All attempts, therefore to
shift the responsibility for the policy OF his
administration toward the Radical party and
the bulldozers Of his own, from his shoulders
to those Of the Democratic caucus, coneed-
ing that that policy was outlined BY the eau
Gus, Is absurd,
But was GOV, Nichols the mere putty In
the hands of the caucus that his supporters
now represent him to have been He was
not, Whether Gov. Nichols Is brainy man
or cot, he is a man of great stubbornness Of
purpose, one much more likely to have
sought TO direct the caucus than TO have ae-
eepted Its dietation, But, be that as It may,
there ia no denying the fact that either GOV,
Nichols himself or GOV. Nichols together
with, or under the influence Of, his nearest
friends, eXerted all of his influence with the
| caucus to shape its action on the temperi9ing
aud mugwumplsh line pursued by his admin
istration. For instance, when the case Of
Tom Anderson and his compatriots of the
famous Returning Board, who had been CON
| Veted by Jury OF system Of bribery and
| forgery BY which the State Of Louisiana was
thrown for Hayes and Packard, was on ap.
| peal before the Supreme Court, IT appeared
| that GOV. Nichols and his advisers were eX-
| tremely anxious that the supreme Court
should reverse the decision Of the jury and
| the lower court Il was almost foregonC
| conclusion, however, that the decision would
| be affirmed, and those interesting peFBonages
rObed In stripes made TO do tho State they
| had iuggled some service, But 50 resolved
was the Governor that such should not bf
| the issue that he appeared before the Demo
| cratic Senate caucus with message, pre-
pared by Judge White, granting final par
| don to the culprits This pardon, determined
upon before the final conviction, was IN
| tended to be issued Immediately upon the
continuation by the Supreme Court Of Tho
| decision OF the lower court, and the HlsssagC
was intended to be an appeal to the Senate
| TO confirm the pardon. And then and there
| the Governor made q strong appeal to the
caucus 10 stand by him when he should haVs
acted. SO strong indeed was the appeal 81
| Gov Nichols that caucus resolution L
| confirm the pardon when granted was draw
| up BY Col. ZaehaFie and then and there car
| ried by the caucus, solely on the urgent sole
| itation and demand OF Gen, Nichols and hil
immediate friends and ad flsors.
OF course GOV. Nichols had no more sym
pRthy or federation Of such methods as thos
of the crIminals he was determined 70 pardon
even before their final conviction than an.
other honest man, But this incident show
that the temporizing, shuilling, milk-and
water policy Of Coy. Nichols, administration
It's compromising with the Radical bandittl
the Sunshine 1t poured upon the heads o
Radical leaders and manipulators, and ~
frowns It bent upon the men Who rescued th
State, were all part of the policy dictated b,
GOV. Nichols oWa Judgment and the adYiel
Of his special attached Tie responsibility
can not at this late day be shuiIied from hi
shoulders on to those Of o caucus. All tn
measures OF his administration that haV
been criticized were his own he alone is re
sponsibie for them. BY these he must b
judged.
Those who believe that after the campaign
Of 1874 and 1876, II was wise statesmanshi
10 return to the Wretehed m0ngrel polio
that prevailed from 1868 to 1874, which prove
dead sea frllie, should defend Gen. Nichols
administration, stand by II fairly and square
ly maintained, foot to foot with his antagC
MIST, that bis temporizings, his appointmen
of ohnozious Radicals, his rebnke Of th
bulIdozers, etc, were essential to the peace
happiness, honor and welfare Of Louislani
The policy was all bis, and when his SUI
porters seek to relieve him OF the respons
blllty for It, they utterly give his case aRal